Adiponectin Concentrations: A Genome-wide Association Study

Jee, Sun Ha,Sull, Jae Woong,Lee, Jong-Eun,Shin, Chol,Park, Jongkeun,Kimm, Heejin,Cho, Eun-Young,Shin, Eun-Soon,Yun, Ji Eun,Park, Ji Wan,Kim, Sang Yeun,Lee, Sun Ju,Jee, Eun Jung,Baik, Inkyung,Kao, Lind Elsevier 2010 American journal of human genetics Vol.87 No.4

<P>Adiponectin is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. To date, there has been no genome-wide association study (GWAS) of adiponectin levels in Asians. Here we present a GWAS of a cohort of Korean volunteers. A total of 4,001 subjects were genotyped by using a genome-wide marker panel in a two-stage design (979 subjects initially and 3,022 in a second stage). Another 2,304 subjects were used for follow-up replication studies with selected markers. In the discovery phase, the top SNP associated with mean log adiponectin was rs3865188 in <I>CDH13</I> on chromosome 16 (p = 1.69 × 10<SUP>−15</SUP> in the initial sample, p = 6.58 × 10<SUP>−39</SUP> in the second genome-wide sample, and p = 2.12 × 10<SUP>−32</SUP> in the replication sample). The meta-analysis p value for rs3865188 in all 6,305 individuals was 2.82 × 10<SUP>−83</SUP>. The association of rs3865188 with high-molecular-weight adiponectin (p = 7.36 × 10<SUP>−58</SUP>) was even stronger in the third sample. A reporter assay that evaluated the effects of a <I>CDH13</I> promoter SNP in complete linkage disequilibrium with rs3865188 revealed that the major allele increased expression 2.2-fold. This study clearly shows that genetic variants in <I>CDH13</I> influence adiponectin levels in Korean adults.</P>

Low Serum Bilirubin Level as an Independent Predictor of Stroke Incidence : A Prospective Study in Korean Men and Women

Kimm, Heejin,Yun, Ji Eun,Jo, Jaeseong,Jee, Sun Ha Ovid Technologies Wolters Kluwer -American Heart A 2009 Stroke Vol.40 No.11

<P>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bilirubin is not only a waste end-product but also an antioxidant. Bilirubin is known to be associated with decrease in cardiovascular risk in men, but its relationship to stroke was not clearly understood. METHODS: Serum bilirubin concentrations were measured in 78 724 health examinees (41 054 men, aged 30-89 years) from 1994 to 2001. The subjects with potential hepatobiliary diseases or Gilbert syndrome were excluded from analysis. Stroke incidence outcome was collected from hospital records of admission attributable to stroke from 1994 to 2007. RESULTS: Serum bilirubin measurements were divided into 4 levels: 0 to 10.2, 10.3 to 15.3, 15.4 to 22.1, and 22.2 to 34.2 micromol/L. The number of stroke cases was 1137 in men and 827 in women. In Cox proportional hazard models, participants with a higher level of bilirubin showed lower hazard ratios in men with ischemic stroke after adjustment for multiple confounding factors compared to the lowest level of bilirubin (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.90 in level 3; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49-0.89 in level 4; P for trend=0.016). The risk of all stroke types also decreased as bilirubin levels increased (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.97 in level 3; HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58-0.94 in level 4; P for trend=0.0071). However, these associations were not seen in hemorrhagic stroke or in women. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that serum bilirubin might have some protective function against stroke risk in men.</P>

Smoking Is Associated With Abdominal Obesity, Not Overall Obesity, in Men With Type 2 Diabetes

Yun, Ji-Eun,Kimm, Hee-Jin,Choi, Young-Ju,Jee, Sun-Ha,Huh, Kap-Bum The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2012 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.45 No.5

Objectives: Abdominal obesity increases mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease and there is a possibility that smoking effects obesity. However, previous studies concerning the effects of smoking on obesity are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine whether smoking is positively related to abdominal obesity in men with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Subjects consisted of 2197 type 2 diabetic patients who visited Huh's Diabetes Center from 2003 to 2009. Indices of abdominal obesity were defined as visceral fat thickness (VFT) measured by ultrasonography and waist circumference (WC). Overall obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI). Results: Statistically significant differences in WC and VFT by smoking status were identified. However, there was no statistical difference in BMI according to smoking status. Means of WC and VFT were not significantly higher in heavy smokers and lower in mild smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, the BMI confounder adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for VFT in ex-smokers and current-smokers were 1.70 (1.21 to 2.39) and 1.86 (1.27 to 2.73), respectively. Conclusions: Smoking status was positively associated with abdominal obesity in type 2 diabetic patients.

Public Health Challenges of Electronic Cigarettes in South Korea

Lee, Sung-Kyu,Kimm, Hee-Jin,Yun, Ji-Eun,Jee, Sun-Ha The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2011 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.44 No.6

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarrettes) were recently introduced and advertised as a smoking cession device in South Korea. As the social norm to quit smoking has gained hold in the country, the number of e-cigarette users is growing rapidly. This phenomenon should be urgently considered, because of the lack of research that has been conducted to examine the safety of e-cigarettes and its efficacy as a smoking cessation aid. This paper raises several public health concerns on e-cigarettes in South Korea. Uncertain regulations of the government on e-cigarettes are contributing to an increase of e-cigarette users and allowing the e-cigarette industry to circumvent existing regulations. The aggressive marketing activity of this industry is also a core factor that is responsible for the rapid increase of e-cigarette use, in particular among the youth. Following the enforcement of tobacco control, some cigarette smokers may be encouraged to purchase e-cigarettes in order to circumvent the regulations, even though the dual use of e-cigarette and cigarette may be more harmful. Until there is clear evidence of the e-cigarette’s safety, it is recommended that the industry’s marketing and promotional activities be banned and closely monitored, and public campaigns be initiated to educate the public regarding e-cigarettes.

Cigarette Smoking and Serum Bilirubin Subtypes in Healthy Korean Men: The Korea Medical Institute Study

Jo, Jae-Seong,Kimm, Hee-Jin,Yun, Ji-Eun,Lee, Kyu-Jang,Jee, Sun-Ha The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2012 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.45 No.2

Objectives: Cigarette smoking is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Bilirubin is a potent antioxidant and its concentration decreases in smokers. However, studies about the association between cigarette smoking and bilirubin are scarce and most are limited to total bilirubin. Additionally, bilirubin is highly related to hemoglobin. Therefore, this study evaluates the association between bilirubin subtypes and cigarette smoking in healthy Korean men independently of hemoglobin. Methods: This study included 48 040 Korean men aged 30 to 87 years who visited the Korea Medical Institute for routine health examinations from January to December, 2007. The association of smoking with total, direct, and indirect bilirubin was assessed by logistic regression analysis taking into consideration differences in subjects and smoking characteristics. Results: Current smokers had lower bilirubin concentrations than never-smokers and ex-smokers. Smoking amount and duration were inversely significantly associated with total, direct, and indirect bilirubin. In a multivariable adjusted model, compared to never-smokers, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of current smokers with the highest number of pack-years were 1.7 (1.6 to 1.9) for total, 1.5 (1.4 to 1.6) for direct, and 1.7 (1.6 to 1.9) for indirect bilirubin. After further adjustment for hemoglobin, this association became stronger (OR [95% CI], 2.1 [1.9 to 2.2] for total; 1.9 [1.8 to 2.0] for direct; 2.0 [1.9 to 2.2] for indirect bilirubin). Conclusions: In this study, bilirubin subtypes are inversely associated with smoking status, smoking amount, and smoking duration in healthy Korean men independently of hemoglobin. Further studies are needed to investigate this association in healthy Korean women.

국제신체활동 설문도구로 측정한 신체활동도와 건강관련 삶의 질의 관련성

김소영(So-Young Kim),윤지은(Ji Eun Yun),김희진(Heejin Kimm),지선하(Sun Ha Jee) 한국보건교육건강증진학회 2011 보건교육건강증진학회지 Vol.28 No.2

Prediction of Colorectal Cancer Risk Using a Genetic Risk Score: The Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (KCPS-II)

Jo, Jae-Seong,Nam, Chung-Mo,Sull, Jae-Woong,Yun, Ji-Eun,Kim, Sang-Yeun,Lee, Sun-Ju,Kim, Yoon-Nam,Park, Eun-Jung,Kimm, Hee-Jin,Jee, Sun-Ha Korea Genome Organization 2012 Genomics & informatics Vol.10 No.3

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer deaths and can be caused by environmental factors as well as genetic factors. Therefore, we developed a prediction model of CRC using genetic risk scores (GRS) and evaluated the effects of conventional risk factors, including family history of CRC, in combination with GRS on the risk of CRC in Koreans. This study included 187 cases (men, 133; women, 54) and 976 controls (men, 554; women, 422). GRS were calculated with most significantly associated single-nucleotide polymorphism with CRC through a genomewide association study. The area under the curve (AUC) increased by 0.5% to 5.2% when either counted or weighted GRS was added to a prediction model consisting of age alone (AUC 0.687 for men, 0.598 for women) or age and family history of CRC (AUC 0.692 for men, 0.603 for women) for both men and women. Furthermore, the risk of CRC significantly increased for individuals with a family history of CRC in the highest quartile of GRS when compared to subjects without a family history of CRC in the lowest quartile of GRS (counted GRS odds ratio [OR], 47.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9 to 471.8 for men; OR, 22.3; 95% CI, 1.4 to 344.2 for women) (weighted GRS OR, 35.9; 95% CI, 5.9 to 218.2 for men; OR, 18.1, 95% CI, 3.7 to 88.1 for women). Our findings suggest that in Koreans, especially in Korean men, GRS improve the prediction of CRC when considered in conjunction with age and family history of CRC.

Poster Session:PS 0220 ; Gastroenterology : Selenium Supplementation Alleviates intestinal Mucositis Associated with Chemotherapy: An Experimental Study in Rats

( Jae Min Lee ),( Bora Keum ),( In Kyung Yoo ),( Seung Joo Nam ),( Seung Han Kim ),( Hyuk Soon Choi ),( Eun Sun Kimm ),( Yoon Tae Jeen ),( Hong Sik Lee ),( Hoon Jai Chun ),( Chang Duck Kim ),( Ho Sang 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.1

Background: Mucositis is a serious complication in patients receiving chemotherapy, and is induced by pro-infl ammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. Selenium has several metabolic functions, including protection of membrane lipids and macromolecules from oxidative damage. Protection against intestinal mucositis during chemotherapy has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of selenium against chemotherapy-induced mucositis in rats. Methods: Twenty-four female Wistar rats (body weight 200-220 g) were randomly allocated to four groups: control: selenium: 5-fl uorouracil (5-FU): 5-FU plus selenium. Mucositis was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU (400 mg/kg). Selenium supplementation was administered by an intraperitoneal injection of sodium selenite (0.2 mg/kg). Results: Diarrhea and weight loss after 5-FU administration was attenuated by selenium treatment. The degree of damage to the intestinal villi in rats treated with 5-FU and selenium supplementation was lesser than that in rats treated with 5-FU without selenium(Fig.1). The mRNA expressions of IL-1ß and TNF-a were signifi cantly decreased in the group treated with 5-FU and selenium compared with those in the group treated with 5-FU alone(Fig.2). Conclusions: Selenium has a benefi cial effect in protecting the mucosa during chemotherapy. This protective effect is attributed to its anti-infl ammatory effects and the selenium-induced suppression of cytotoxic cytokines.